BISD final budget discussed

Friday

Jun 28, 2013 at 8:57 AMJun 28, 2013 at 8:57 AM

By Christy Hart-Harris

charris@thedailyreporter.com

COLDWATER — The budget was the main focus at this month's Branch Intermediate School Board (BISD) meeting. With the fiscal year beginning on July 1, the budgets have been set and supported by the board members.

Revenue from state aid is being budgeted based on Public Act 60 of 2013, which was signed by Governor Rick Snyder earlier this month. State aid for the Intermediate School district will remain the same as in the 2012-2013 school year.

All three districts will have a $60 per pupil increase due to the 2013-2014 State School Aid Act.

The district's largest revenue source comes from property tax levies. Due to a poor economy and declining property values, the 2010-2011 school year budget had a 2.47 percent decrease. The 2013-2014 school year will have only a slight increase of 0.8 percent.

The 2013-2014 State Aid Act has increased the per child allocation for children in the Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) by $225. The 6.6 percent increase is the first increase for the schools since the 2007-2008 school year. GSRP has 135 available slots at $3,625 per slot. This program is operated by the BISD in Coldwater, Quincy and Bronson.

Due to the Headlee Amendment made to the Michigan Constitution and taxable values increasing, an additional millage rollback is required thus 0.0284 was lost to the general fund; 0.6260 was lost in Special Education and 0.6895 was lost in Vocational Education. An increase in the millage can only be accomplished by an approval of the electorate.

Head Start's budget will have a 5.2 percent decrease due to Federal Budget Sequestration. However, Head Start has a carryover of $48,628 for capital outlay related to the Chicago Street School project.Total fund balance available for appropriation for Special Education is down $1,501,664 which is down $417,760 from last school year.

In other news, a Health Science Program was proposed to the board by Vocational Education Director, Michael Hoffner. The program would provide students with the opportunity of receiving a certified nurses assistant (CNA)certificate. In order to run this program, Hoffner advised the board that a Career Development Coordinator would need to be hired and requested they approve the hiring of Jennifer J. Searls for the position.

Lastly, the board approved a provision to the policy, "Use of Tobacco By Professional Staff". Professional and support staff and of age students are no longer provided with the right to use tobacco products in designated areas on school grounds. An exception had been in place for years that allowed smoking on school property on Saturday and Sundays and after 6 p.m. on week days.

Gary Crandall, BISD Business Manager, told the board that BISD was one of the only districts that did not adopt the new smoking laws due to adult education classes.

The next BISD Board meeting is scheduled for July 17 at 4 p.m. at the Administration Building.